The American Chemical Society was
founded in the old University Building. On the
evening of April 6, 1876, 35 chemists met in the lecture room of the
College of Pharmacy of the City of New York to create the Society; they
elected John W. Draper as its first president. A plaque commemorating
this first meeting of the society resides on the exterior west wall
of the present Silver Center. The society is still active and has over
158,000 members worldwide.